Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
October 28, 2016

Baggio Elson Roberto Roach began a three-week remand stint at HMP Dodds after appearing in court today on rape and assault charges.

Roach, 26, of Farrell Road, Belleplaine, St Andrew is charged with trespassing into the home of one woman and assaulting another woman while there. That incident allegedly occurred on October 3.

Roach is also accused of having sexual intercourse with the same female he assaulted without her consent, on October 6.

He was not required to plead to the two indictable charges.

When it came time for bail, police prosecutor Sergeant Neville Watson objected on the grounds of the nature and seriousness on the offences, that the accused man and the complainant had a history of domestic issues, and for the protection on society.

He also pointed to Roach’s antecedents.

However, the accused man’s attorney Anya Lorde argued that the charges were allegations and her client was innocent until proven otherwise.

“This is an off-and-on relationship . . . and there [may be in] some way, some maliciousness involved,” she argued.

However, Magistrate Douglas Frederick countered as he referred to Roach’s conviction card, that while the charges were allegations, “we have a man here who has convictions, allegations of trespassing, allegations of rape”.

“It seems to be graduating and getting more and more serious. What next?” a concerned Frederick asked.

Following some dialogue, the magistrate remanded Roach into custody until November 24, to reappear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.

Roach also has a November 7 date to appear before the Magistrates’ Court in Belleplaine.